Policy - Street Naming - 20240924100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905)727-3123
aurora.ca
Town of Aurora
Policy
Planning and Development Services
Contact: Director, Planning and Development Services
Approval Authority: Council
Effective: May 22, 2001
Revised: April 24, 2007; July 9, 2024
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Street Naming
Purpose
This policy establishes the process and parameters for the street naming of public road
allowances and private streets, and street name changes within the Town of Aurora. It
is desirable that the Town of Aurora have such a policy in place to serve as a guide for
staff and to promote the input of the public in the making of such decisions.
Scope
The criteria and guidelines contained in this policy shall apply to the naming of
municipal and private streets. Notwithstanding the provisions of this policy, Council
may, under special circumstances, duplicate the name of a road with the name of a
facility, provided that the name has been selected in accordance with the Naming Rights
and Street Naming policies.
Definitions
Not applicable.
Policy
Street Naming Criteria
It is desirable to promote the outstanding and/or exemplary contributions of persons in
the community both past and present.
Street names for public road allowances shall generally be determined based on the
following criteria:
•The names of historical persons or families and others within the municipality
who have made outstanding, significant and/or exemplary contributions to the
Town. The street signs for streets named after these persons may be identified
with a professional emblem in recognition of their related service within the
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community, such as Fire Protection, Police Status, or others as deemed
appropriate by Council or staff.
• The names of local Veterans; including but not limited to those who are honoured
on the Town Cenotaph, Altar of Sacrifice and at the Aurora War Memorial and
Peace Park. The names from the Aurora Cenotaph shall be chosen as priority
before any other name is approved. The street signs for streets named after all
Veterans shall be identified with a poppy emblem after their name.
• Any member of Aurora Council is eligible for nomination for the Town of Aurora
Bank of Approved Street Names, however the selection of a Councillor’s name
for use cannot occur during their term of office.
• Other individual requests for street names as deemed appropriate by Council or
staff.
Street names for private streets shall generally be determined based on the following
criteria:
• In accordance with the general Street Name Criteria for public road allowances
as set out above.
• A request made by the developer.
• A theme or promotional name may be proposed to assist with marketing.
The developer and owner/applicant have the opportunity to suggest alternate street
names other than what is provided in the Bank of Approved Street Names for
consideration and review under this policy.
Bank of Approved Street Names
The Bank of Approved Street Names shall be replenished periodically by proposing a
series of potential street names to York Region for approval on the basis of municipal
consistency for 911 purposes. Central York Fire Services shall also be consulted with
respect to those street names considered acceptable.
The Planning and Development Services Department shall maintain a bank of approved
street names available for selection and assignment within new developments. Once all
names have been approved by the appropriate agencies the list will be offered to
developers as optional names, thereby providing improved efficiencies to the process of
assigning street names to proposed new developments.
The Planning and Development Services Department will circulate appropriate notice of
selected names to the following parties:
a) New street name nominees or remaining family members of individuals that can
be identified and who are in anyway associated or connected with the proposed
street name, including the Aurora Royal Canadian Legion for Veterans. This
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notice shall be provided when the nominee is added and can also be provided
when the name is selected for a new street.
b) The public at large through newspaper publication as appropriate and posting on
the Town’s website for a 30-day period.
c) York Region, Central York Fire Services, and the appropriate agencies and Town
departments including the Operations Department. The Aurora Royal Canadian
Legion shall be circulated for Veteran street name selections.
Responses will be received from any of the above contacts for a period of 30-days after
selection and prior to final approval. As per Council delegation (By-law 6212-19), the
decision to approve street names is ultimately through the Director of Planning and
Development Services.
Any objection to a street name consideration will be reviewed, and the name being
considered can be removed at the discretion of the Planning and Development Services
Department. A street name consideration can be removed under the following
conditions:
a) A request is made by a street name nominee, a remaining family member, or one
of the circulation agencies noted above including the public, to have the name be
removed. This can include the removal of a street name consideration due to
potential offensiveness or reasons around sensitivity.
b) Emergency Services (Central York Fire Services, York Region – Police, EMS, Bell
911) along with the Town of Aurora Planning and Development Services
Department believe that a street name submission may potentially have a
negative impact on Emergency Services. If such an issue arises, the street name
nominee or remaining family members will be notified explaining why the name
has been removed.
The input from the public, Aurora Royal Canadian Legion, and the Aurora Historical
Society shall also be sought as required in updating future lists for potential street
naming or to consult with on any name considerations or removals.
Application of Street Naming Contraventions
The general street naming guidelines to be used are set out as follows:
• Street names shall not cross arterial roads.
• “North”, “South”, “East” or “West” shall not be used as part of the formal street
name other than for descriptive purposes of streets.
• The criteria for naming street suffixes shall be applied to different road types in
accordance with the following:
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“Street”, “Avenue”, and “Way” for internal streets that run in a general
north-south or east-west direction and are used generally to denote
collector roads.
“Road” for streets which are collector or arterial streets and are heavily
used and run in any direction.
“Drive” and “Trail” for streets where meandering is the main character.
“Boulevard” for streets where the travel lanes are separated by a planted
median divider.
“Crescent” for streets which intersect another street at both ends and
which actually forms a crescent and leads back to the same connecting
street at each end.
“Court” for streets which end permanently as a bulb/cul-de-sac, a “T”, or a
design which permits turning around through only one point of access.
“Place” and “Square” for streets where there is no exit from the street and
the street leads back to the original street entrance.
“Gate” for streets that are a short connection from a main street to
another street.
“Circle” for streets that loop back to itself.
“Lane” for streets which are generally straight and have a minimal number
of connecting streets.
A mix of different suffixes shall be assigned in circumstances where street names are
proposed to be assigned (i.e. use one “Street”, “Road”, “Avenue”, etc.) for registered
plans of subdivision.
Street Names for Public Road Allowances
Municipal street names shall be assigned by the Planning and Development Services
Department at the time that second submission engineering plans are processed and
when the developer initiates the subdivision agreement process. The developer is
instructed by the Planning and Development Services Department to initiate the street
naming process.
The street name assignment process for street names other that those listed in the
Town’s Bank of Approved Street Names involves obtaining clearance for the use of the
proposed street name(s) by York Region, and acceptance by Central York Fire Services.
Additional agencies, including but not limited to the Aurora Royal Canadian Legion
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and/or the Aurora Historical Society can also be consulted as required. An appropriate
suffix to the street name is assigned by the Planning and Development Services
Department subject to the configuration of the road in accordance with the provisions
of this Policy. The Planning and Development Services Department shall give notice of
the designated street names to the Town’s list of interested agencies requesting
notification once the Plan of Subdivision is registered.
Street Names for Private Streets
Street names for private streets may be allocated from the Bank of Approved Street
Names. Additionally, a developer may be permitted greater flexibility to suggest their
own names for private streets subject to the provisions of this Policy.
The process is initiated by a site plan application to the Planning and Development
Services Department, as it is at this stage that the requirement for the name assignment
is identified.
The street name assignment process for street names other than those listed in the
Town’s Bank of Approved Street Names involves obtaining clearance for the use of the
proposed street name(s) by York Region, and acceptance by Central York Fire Services.
Additional agencies, including but not limited to the Aurora Royal Canadian Legion
and/or the Aurora Historical Society can also be consulted as required. An appropriate
suffix to the street name is assigned by the Planning and Development Services
Department subject to the configuration of the road in accordance with the provisions
of this Policy. For private streets that are created through a plan of condominium, the
Planning and Development Services Department shall give notice of the designated
street names to the Town’s list of interested agencies requesting notification once the
final Plan is registered.
Street Names Changes
Requests for street name changes shall be submitted to the Planning and Development
Services Department and be accompanied by the prescribed fee from the Town’s Fee
By-law as amended from time to time as part of the annual review of fees.
Requests for street renaming shall only be considered in special circumstances, for
example, considering the impact on the existing street numbering and naming
conventions and/or emergency services. In such cases, street renumbering pursuant to
the Town’s street numbering policies shall be done concurrently as may be appropriate
to ensure that consistency is adhered to.
The street name change process involves receipt of a complete application, the
preparation of a report to Council by the Planning and Development Services
Department for approval, notice of consideration of a By-law, and registration of the By-
law. The public shall be notified and the Council shall hear any person who claims to be
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adversely affected by the by-law and applies to be heard. In addition to the minimum
requirements for publication, notice may be given by prepaid postage to all assessed
person affected by the change, at the discretion of the Clerk.
Usually there are a number of months from the time of approval to implementation of a
street name change in order to allow any affected residents time to alter their personal
address information and to post new street addresses should this be necessary.
Street Naming Notification
The Planning and Development Services Department maintains a list of interested
parties requesting notification for each development application. This list, as well as
those agencies referenced in this policy shall be notified regarding street naming for the
respective development applications.
Responsibilities
All Staff
Staff shall refer all requests for street naming to the attention of the Planning and
Development Services Department.
Planning and Development Services
The Planning and Development Services Department shall be responsible for the
administration and maintenance of this policy.
Monitoring and Maintenance
CAO / directors / managers / supervisors and employees should work collaboratively to
resolve issues related to this policy. Any employee found to be disrespecting the terms
of this policy other than under exceptional circumstances, emergencies or operational
requirement is subject to an investigation and discipline deemed appropriate by their
immediate supervisor, Human Resources, the Town Clerk and / or CAO.
This policy will be reviewed two years from its effective or revision date, in accordance
with the Town of Aurora’s policy maintenance schedule.
References
• By-law – Delegation of Authority
• By-law – Fees and Charges
• Policy – Municipal Naming